Dissertation Proposal Outline

Most universities offer comprehensive guidelines in their dissertation manuals about how to set up and organize the dissertation and the proposal. In the Social Sciences, most dissertations are organized into four or five chapters. However, there are many variations on the nature of these chapters, and the details are left up to the discretion of the Dissertation Committee. In the Social Sciences, the dissertation proposal generally consists of the first three chapters (in a five-chapter format) or the first two chapters (in a four-chapter format).

Dissertation Outline

Here is a generic outline for a five-chapter dissertation. The third chapter on methodology varies for a qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-method design. A four-chapter dissertation incorporates the literature review into the first chapter.

Chapter 1: Introduction

Introduction

Background of the Problem

Statement of the Problem

Purpose of the Study

Research Questions

Significance of the Study

Definition of Terms

Assumptions, Limitations, and Delimitations

Conclusion

Chapter 2: Review of the Literature

Introduction

Search Description

Conceptual or Theoretical Framework

Review of Research (organized by variable or themes)

Chapter 3: Methodology (Qualitative)

Introduction

Research Design

Research Questions

Setting

Participants

Data Collection

Data Analysis

Conclusion

Chapter 3: Methodology (Quantitative)

Introduction

Research Design

Research Questions and Hypotheses

Population and Sample

Instrumentation

Data Collection

Data Analysis

Conclusion

Chapter 3: Methodology (Mixed)

Introduction

Research Design

Research Questions and Hypotheses

Setting and Sample

Data Collection

Data Analysis

Conclusion

Chapter 4: Research Findings

Introduction

Findings (organized by Research Questions or Hypotheses)

Conclusion

Chapter 5: Conclusions, Discussion, and Suggestions for Future Research